Pushbutton dispenser for products in the fluid state



Dec. 6, 1966 w. ROTH 3,289,949

PUSHBUTTON DISPENSER FOR PRODUCTS IN THE FLUID STATE Filed Sept. 8, 19649 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG I INl ENTOR.

AMI/y Raf/r w I I I q a N fi m/PM A TTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1966 w. ROTH3,289,949

PUSHBUTTQN DISPENSER FOR PRODUCTS IN THE FLUID STATE Filed Sept. 8, 19649 Sheets-Sheet 2 l INVENTOR Willy Rot/r mmM/WUM ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1966W. ROTH PUSHBUTTON DISPENSER FOR PRODUCTS IN THE FLUID STATE Filed Sept.8, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 A TTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1966 W. ROTH 3,289,949

PUSHBUTTON DISPENSER FOR PRODUCTS IN THE FLUID STATE Filed Sept. 8, 19649 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG 7 IN VEN TOR. Willy Raf/1 BY WM,M Z

ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1966 w. ROTH 3,289,949

PUSHBUTTON DISPENSER FOR PRODUCTS IN THE FLUID STATE Filed Sept. 8, 1964l 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 WI INVENTOR.

i/ R fl; Mam/M ATTORNEYS W. ROTH Dec. 6, 1966 PUSHBUTT ON DISPENSER FORPRODUCTS IN THE FLUID STATE Filed Sept. 8, 1964 9 $heetsSheet 6 37|o SEEf G. 38") 1- W I INVENTOR.

i/y Rafi; Mi M A TTOR/VEYS Dec. 6, 1966 w. ROTH 3,289,949

PUSHBUTTON DISPENSER FOR PRODUCTS IN THE FLUID STATE Filed Sept. 8, 19649 Sheets-Sheet 7 IN VENTOR.

Willy Raf/r WM,M M

ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1966 w. ROTH 3,289,949

PUSHBUTTON DISPENSER FOR PRODUCTS IN THE FLUID STATE Filed Sept. 8, 19649 Sheets-Sheet 8 I06 K -13 5/ z \r ml 251 I i 3 1/ 4'2 62m I 8|4 I I 244WZTA'AQTLWT" I 9l4 l4 W IN VENTOR. l Raf BY M ATTORNEYS W. ROTH Dec. 6,1966 PUSHBUTTON DISPENSER FOR PRODUCTS IN THE FLUID STATE 9 Sheets-Sheet9 Filed Sept. 8, 1964.

Willy ATTORNEYS Fatented Dec. 6, 1966 3,289 949 PUSHBUTTON DHSPENS ERFOR PRODUCTS IN THE FLUID STATE Willy Roth, Aarau, Switzerland, assignorto Geigy Chemical Corporation, Greenlsurgh, N.Y., a corporation of Thisinvention relates to an apparatus for dispensing a product in the fluidstate such as a liquid or a powdery product. Where the product is aliquid, this dispenser makes it possible to atomize the liquid inquestion as it is dispensed.

The dispenser of this invention is of the type comprising a receptaclefitted with a pushbutton actuated valve and using a gas under pressure(in particular a liquefied gas), as the propellant agent, this gas beingcontained in a reservoir separate from that which contains the fluid tobe dispensed.

There presently exists in the art fluid dispensers with atomizers whichcomprise an outer receptacle having a pushbutton actuated valve thereonand containing an active liquid to be dispensed. Within this outerreceptacle is mounted a reservoir of propellant agent, such as aliquefied gas, and the reservoir is connected with the valve. Downstreamof this valve is an atomizing nozzle, for instance aconvergent-divergent nozzle, and one end of a tube opens in theimmediate vicinity of a nozzle while the other end of the tube isimmersed in the liquid in the outer receptacle.

When the pushbutton is pressed the valve is opened. The propellant gasvaporizes and in escaping through the nozzle it creates a reducedpressure zone which sucks the liquid to be atomized and dispensedthrough the tube. This liquid is broken up into fine droplets and isprojected into space by the gas flowing through the nozzle. Theimportance of such a device is that it permits a complete separation ofthe propelling agent and the liquid to be dispensed and atomized duringstorage prior to dispensing, the two products only coming into thepresence of one another during an extremely short interval of time atthe exact moment of atomization and dispensing. In this way thedrawbacks of the conventional aerosol bombs due to incompatibilitybetween the liquefied propelling agent and the active agent to beatomized and dispensed are overcome.

However, a device of the kind described above has the drawback of notpermitting the liquid which is the active agent from being sealed offfrom the atmosphere, and this liquid may thus evaporate, deteriorate orotherwise escape from the receptacle.

To overcome this drawback it has been proposed to mount on the head ofthe atomizer-dispenser a fluid-tight obturator which closes the outletorifice of the automization nozzle. However this system is verycomplicated to produce and to handle.

Atomizer-dispensers are also known which have a triple obturator, withcentralized pushbutton control for the triple obturator.

One such atomizer-dispenser comprises two identical aerosol valvesplaced side by side, the valve for the liquid to be atomized beingdouble and controlling an air inlet orifice for the dispensed liquidreceptacle. These valves are actuated by a single pushbutton which iscoupled to both valves. However, such a device is complicated toproduce. Furthermore the use of an aerosol type valve for discharging aliquid where the liquid has been placed under pressure does not producethe most favorable dispensing conditions, as this comparativelycomplicated system requires a useless throttling of the liquid beingdispensed.

Atomizer-dispensers have likewise been proposed which comprise a tripleobturator consisting of a sliding core in the form of a slide valve. Inone embodiment of this type of atomizer-dispenser, the propellant fluidis held in an annular reservoir situated around the receptaclecontaining the active agent to be atomized and dispensed, the activeagent being fed to the atomization nozzle through an axial duct. Thisarrangement however results in an atomizer-dispenser which is difiicultto produce, unpleasing in appearance and difli-cult to handle.Furthermore, since the propelling agent reservoir is outside thereceptacle, if there is an explosion of the reservoir containing thepropelling agent, the user is not protected against flying fragments.

In another embodiment the receptacle containing the liquid to beatomized and dispensed and the reservoir of the liquefied propellingagent are arranged side by side. The slide valve is mounted so that itcan slide along an axis at right angles to the axes of these receptaclesand has an axial duct through which the propelling agent can escape foratomization. This system, however, has the same defect as the precedingone as regards protection in the case of an explosion of the propellingagent reservoir.

In devices of this kind it has furthermore been considered necessary, tofacilitate the atomization, either to admit the vaporized propellingagent into the space above the liquid active agent to be atomized anddispensed, which again can create a problem because of incompatibilityof the two materials and the necessity to provide for increasedresistance to pressure -by the outer receptacle, or of producing openingand closing of various obtur-ators in a sequential order, whichsubstantially complicates production of the device, makes it necessaryto provide for an appreciable length of travel of the slide valve, andreduces the manufacturing tolerances.

The improved atomizer-dispenser of the present invention is intended inthe first place to overcome the defects in the prior art devicesdescribed above.

It should also be noted that most of the known atomizer-dispensers ofthe kind described above are rechargeable and are expensive to produce.This is why these appliances are used mostly for the atomization anddispensing of expensive liquids, such as perfumes, the price of whichjustifies at one and the same time a complicated mechanical atomizer,careful handling, and the possibility of refilling.

An object of the present invention is to provide an atomizer-dispensercontaining a considerable quantity of an inexpensive product, such as ahousehold product (cleaning, deoderiz-ation or disinfecting agent) or apest destroyer (anti-parasite, weed-killer, insecticide, etc), or ahygienic or cosmetic product (hair lacquer, sunburn lotion, etc.), butwhich does not require large quantities of the propelling agent andwhich is not refillable.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an atomizer-dispensercapable of large scale mass production while using inexpensive materialssuch as plastic materials.

The invention is further directed to the provision of anatomizer-dispenser having a structure such that the fineness ofatomization obtained with a nozzle of the convergent-divergent typethrough which passes a current of vaporized propelling agent iscomparable to that produced by aerosol bombs now in use in which theactive liquid agent and the propelling agent are in the presence of oneanother and under pressure in the same receptacle.

According to the invention the apparatus for dispensing, particularly inatomized form, of an active agent of a liquid or powdery nature,comprises an outer receptacle adapted to hold the active agent, an innerreservoir adapted to contain a propellant gas under pressure, a stopperclosing the outer receptacle and keeping the inner reservoir inposition, the said stopper having a pushbutton therein for control ofthe escape of the propelling agent and also supporting a tube which isadapted to extend into. the active agent in the outer receptacle andwhich has one end at a discharge nozzle, which apparatus further has ahigh pressure obturator for the propelling agent reservoir and forming apart of the control pushbutton and low pressure obturator means alsoforming part of the pushbutton and respectively controlling thecommunication of the tube with the discharge nozzle and thecommunication of the receptacle containing the active agent with theatmosphere outside the apparatus.

Preferably the high pressure obturator is incorporated wvith thepropellant agent reservoir in such a way as to form an independentassembly, and has a conduit member provided with a gas expansion nozzleopening into it. The

conduit member has the control pushbutton mounted thereon, and thestopper has a deformable collar permitting a spigot and socket mountingof the propellant agent reservoir on the stopper.

It is thus possible to assemble the independent assembly with thestopper, pushbutton, and outer receptacle at atmospheric pressure and bymeans of a very simple series of operations. Furthermore the conduitmember with its .gas expansion inlet nozzle, by throttling thepropellant gas across the gas expansion inlet nozzle, produces a firstexpansion of the propellant agent, which is favorable for the suction ofthe liquid into the discharge nozzle. In one advantageous arrangement,the control pushbutton is slidably mounted in 'a cup in the stopper,which cup com municates with the outer receptacle containing the activeagent and which is traversed by the conduit member feeding thepropellant agent to the discharge nozzle. This pushbutton is providedwith a duct which in the depressed condition connects theabove-mentioned cup to the said discharge nozzle. This duct is obturatedby a flexible member surrounding the pushbutton and closing the cup whenthe pushbutton is not depressed. This flexible member can also serve toobturate an air inlet duct opening .into the outer receptacle when thepushbutton is not depressed, so that the same flexible member forms thelow pressure obturator means of the invention.

Various embodiments of the obturators can be provided. According to oneembodiment, the above-mentioned flexiblemember is embedded in thestopper, while in another embodiment it has a certain freedom ofmovement along the pushbutton between two pairs of stops, one pair onthe pushbutton and the other pair on the stopper.

In another embodiment of the invention, the flexible member can beomitted and the pushbutton comprises successive annular projections influid-tight contact with the wall of' the cup, the communicating ductsbeing provided in the stopper and extending to the tube on the one handand into the outer receptacle on the other hand and opening into thesaid cup at different levels in relation to the projections on thepushbutton.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from the followingspecification and claims, taken together with the attached drawings,showing by way of non-restrictive examples, various embodiments of theinvention, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional elevation view of an atomizerdispenser accordingto the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a diametral sectional view on a larger scale of the upperpart of the device of FIGURE 1 showing the parts in the non-dispensingpositions;

FIGURE 3 is an axial section taken along line III-III of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4- is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing the parts in theatomizing-dispensing positions;

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 are views similar to FIGURE 2 of devices havingdifferent high pressure obturators for the propellant agent reservoir;

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, showing a modified embodiment ofthe apparatus according to the invention in the non-dispensing position;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8 showing the parts thereof in thedispensing positions;

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing another modifiedembodiment of the apparatus according to the invention with the parts inthe non-dispensing position;

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 10 showing the parts thereof inthe dispensing positions;

FIGURES l2 and 13 are views similar to FIGURE 8 of devices havingdifferent high pressure obturators for the propellant agent reservoir;

FIGURE 14 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing another modifiedembodiment of the apparatus according to the invention with the parts inthe non-dispensing position;

FIGURE 15 is a view similar to FIGURE 14 showing the parts thereofin thedispensing positions;

FIGURE 16 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 showing another modifiedembodiment of the apparatus according to the invention with the parts inthe non-dispensing position; and

FIGURE 17 is a view similar to FIGURE 16 showing the parts thereof inthe dispensing positions.

In the description which follows it will be assumed that the activeagent to be distributed is a liquid. In this case the dispensing of thisliquid includes its atomization in the form of very fine droplets inorder to produce a mist which is comparable in fineness to the dropletsof mist produced by ordinary aerosol bombs.

Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the apparatus comprises an outer receptacle 1,for instance of plastic material, adapted to contain the liquid activeagent 2 to be atomized and dispensed.

An outer receptacle 1 terminates in a neck 3 which is obturated by asolid stopper 4. The stopper 4 carries a reservoir 5 containing thepropellant agent 6, for instance liquefied gas, the kinetic energy ofwhich is utilized during escape of the gas from the reservoir for theatomization and dispensing of the liquid 2. For instance the propellantagent can consist of a gas with a high vapor tension such as carbonicacid gas, fluorochlorinated hydrocarbons, such asdichlorodifluoromethane, propane, etc.

The reservoir 5 can be made, for example, of thick glass or of a lightalloy. In the embodiment shown in the figures, a. reservoir with a largediameter and a low height is preferably used in order to limit theflexional stresses at the point of fixation to the stopper. It isequally possible to use a reservoir 5 which has a small diameter andwhich extends over the whole available depth of the outer receptacle 1.

According to an important special feature of the present invention thereservoir 5- has a high pressure obturator 7,

V of any type, which is mounted in the neck of reservoir 5 inside thedome 8 of a cover 9 capping the reservoir 5. The obturator 7 can be aconventional aerosol valve. In the embodiment described this comprises avalve body 11 slidably mounted in a housing 20 which has an orifice 3tin the bottom thereof communicating with the interior of the reservoir5. The valve body 11 is urged into the closed position by the pressureof the liquefied gas and by a return spring 12 mounted beneath it inhousing 30. The valve body 11 in the closed position compresses aflexible annular member 13 against the base 10 of the dome 8 in'such away as to obturate one or more radial inlet nozzles 14 which open intothe axial bore 15 of a conduit member 16.

The reservoir 5 fitted with its high pressure obturator 7 forms a firstautonomous sub-assembly which can be filled with the propellant gas byconventional aerosol filling techniques and which can then be handled atatmospheric pressure.

To permit simple and rapid mounting of the reservoir 5, the stopper 4 isprovided with an annular extension 17 with a restricted diameter portion18 capable of adapting itself to the cover 9 of the reservoir 5 byelastic deformation. There is a downwardly opening cavity 19 in thestopper 4 opening into the space surrounded by the annular extension 17and the volume of which corresponds to that of the dome 8.

Above the cavity 19 is an upwardly open cup 21, with a graduallydownwardly and inwardly tapering bottom surface which forms one face ofa flexible collar 22 between the cup 21 and cavity 19, which collar hasa central orifice 23 for the passage of the conduit member 16 of thehigh pressure obturator 7.

With this construction, when the cover 9' for the reservoir 5 is forcedupwardly into the extension 17, the conduit member 16 lies on the axisof the cup 21 and extends through opening 23. The dimensions of thesystem are so calculated that the base of the dome 8 presses lightlyagainst the collar 22, deforming it elastically, which ensures afluid-tight joint between these surfaces.

The stopper 4 further has a downwardly opening recess 40 therein intowhich one end of a tube 24 is forcibly fitted, the other end of the tubeextending nearly to the bottom of outer receptacle 1 so that it willalways extend into the liquid 2. The joint between tube 40 and stopper 4is fluid-tight. A duct 25 extends from the tube 24 through the stopperand opens into the cup 21 through an aperture 26.

The apparatus further comprises a pushbutton 27 the head 28 of which hasmounted therein a discharge nozzle 29 of the convergent-divergent type.This nozzle may simply comprise, for instance, a convergent part 36, aneck 37 and a divergent part 38.

The pushbutton 27 can be made of a semi-rigid moulded synthetic materialand the associated nozzle 29 can be of a light alloy or of stainlesssteel, or can also be made of rigid synthetic material.

The head 28 has a downward axially extending portion 31 having a sleeve32 on the end thereof adapted to be positioned in the cup 21 and to capthe conduit member 16 in a fluid-tight manner.

When the apparatus is assembled the pushbutton 27 is thus axiallymovable with the high pressure obturator 7 which carries it, these partsconstituting a single continuous assembly.

The portion 31 of the pushbutton 27 has two parallel ducts 33 extendingparallel to the axis AA of the apparatus (FIGURE 3), which start in achamber 34 at the inner end of sleeve 32 forming an extension of thebore 15 of the conduit member 16 and which open into a chamber 35 in thehead 28 which has an axis BB at right angles to the axis AA and whichcorresponds to the axis of the nozzle 29.

Radial ducts 41 open into the neck 37 of nozzle '29 and they extend intoan annular chamber 42 around nozzle 29 for distributing the liquid to beatomized. The chamber 42 is fed by an oblique duct 43 extending throughthe part 44 of the downwardly extending portion 31 separating the twoducts 33 (FIGURE 3). The duct 43 opens through an aperture 45 into anannular groove 46 in the body 31, and aperture 45 is controlled by a lowpressure obturator essentially comprising an annular flexible member 47.The flexible member 47 can be made of synthetic rubber, for instance,and is circular in form and has a central aperture through which theextending portion 31 extends, this aperture, however, having a smallerdiameter than the diameter of the extending portion 31 at the annulargroove 46 in which it locks to provide a fluid-tight joint.

The flexible member 47 in this embodiment also serves as a secondobturator, a low pressure obturator con- 6 trolled by the pushbutton 27and controlling the admission of air into the outer receptacle 1 onlyduring dispensing.

This function is performed by the cooperation of the flexible member 47with a duct 48 extending through stopper 4 and having an upper endopening above the member 47 into an annular groove 49 separated from thecup 21 by an annular ridge 51 against which the flexible member 47 isfixed in position by the action of a semirigid cap 52, forcibly securedaround the edge of a projection 53 on the stopper 4. The cap 52 has acentral aperture 54 therein larger in diameter than downwardly dependingportion 31 and through which depending portion 31 passes and has acollar 55 therearound directed towards the flexible member 47 and whichpresses on it in the non-dispensing position. Radial ducts 56 extendpartly through collar 55 from a point intermediate the inner and outerperipheral edges to the outer peripheral edge and place the duct 48 andthe space between the flexible member 47, the cap 52 and the collar 55,in communication. Because the collar 55 is on the flexible member in thenon-dispensing position, it separates the said space from the atmosphereoutside the apparatus.

As can be seen from the foregoing description, the stopper 4, the firstsub-assembly made up of the reservoir 5 filled with its propellant gasand the obturator 7, and the pushbutton 27 and its various parts can beassembled and form a second sub-assembly. To complete the assembly ofthe apparatus all that is necessary to press the stopper 4 of thissecond sub-assembly into the receptacle 1 until an annular rim 58 on thestopper 4 bears on the neck 3 of the receptacle 1. This neck has anouter projection 61 which enables an annular cover 62 to be attached toit, the cover having an inwardly projection rib 63 engaging underprojection 61 and a central aperture 64 through which the stopper 4passes. Since the interior of the receptacle 1 is not under pressure,this assembly can be effected very easily and with a perfectlysatisfactory fluid-tightness, simply by engagement of the variouscomponents and without threading any of the parts to each other.

If it is desired to seal this apparatus, the rim 58 can be made integralwith the neck 3 by bonding it thereto or Welding it thereby by anysuitable means, such as thermowelding, by ultrasonic or high frequencymethods, depending on the nature of the plastic materials used, sincethe dispenser is not, basically, designed to be refilled.

When the dispenser is in the non-dispensing condition (FIGURE 2) thepushbutton 27 is kept in the upper position by the spring 12 and by thepressure of the propelling agent 6. The flexible member 47 thus pressesagainst the annular collar 55 of the cap 52, and the cup 21 isfluidtightl-y obturated by the flexible member 47, the aperture 45 beingsituated above the flexible member. In this way the liquid 2 cannotescape, even if it flows into this cup after passing through the tube 24and the duct 25.

Furthermore the part of the chamber 49 between the flexible member 47and the cap 52 and into which the duct 48 opens is fluid-tightlyobturated in respect of the atmosphere outside the apparatus. Any escapeof liquid 2 by this route is therefore equally impossible.

If the pushbutton 27 is depressed (FIGURE 4) into the stopper 4, thebody 11 of the obturator 7 slides in the direction G into the housing20, compressing the spring 12. The flexible members 13 "and 47 are bentdue to this displacement as shown in FIGURE 4 and uncover the inletnozzles 14 of the conduit member 16 and also the aperture 45 at the endof the duct 43, which has been moved into the cup 21 beneath theflexible member 47.

The first result of this displacement is to place the reservoir 5 intocommunication with the outer atmosphere, which causes the flow of thepropellant fluid in the direction 1. This flow includes a firstexpansion at the outlet from the inlet nozzle 14 which produces avaporized propellant agent flowing at a high speed in the conduit member16. This speed is further increased as the vaporized propellant flowsthrough the convergent and neck parts of the discharge nozzle 29. Underthe action of this flow of propellant, a low pressure zone is created inthe neck 37 of the discharge nozzle, the result of which is to suck theliquid 2 in the direction through tube 24, duct 25, cup 21, duct 43,chamber 42 and radial ducts 41. The liquid reaching the neck 37 of thedischarge nozzle 29 is projected out of the nozzle and is atomized bythe gaseous flow f moving along the BB of the head 28.

At the same time as the liquid 2 flows in the direction 1', thusprogressively emptying the receptacle 1, the outside air is admitted tothe interior of this receptacle, because of the depression of theflexible member 47 away from collar 55, making possible the flow of airthrough the ducts 56 and the duct 48 (path k). Because the curved partof the flexible member 47 rests against the conical part of the groove46, no air which would cut off the suction of the liquid stream canenter cup 21.

Experience has shown that the rise of the liquid 2 in the direction j ispractically instantaneous, even if the receptacle 1 is only partiallyfilled, so that as soon as the button 27 is depressed, atomization takesplace without there being any loss of propellant agent. It is because ofthis instantaneous atomization that the present invention provides forthe simultaneous flexing of the flexible members 13 and 47.

It will be noted that the cup 21 provided in the stopper 4 plays aspecial role: after atomization a certain amount of liquid is left inthe cup 21. When the dispenser is used again, this liquid is acted on bythe extending portion 31 of the button 27 as it descends in such a waythat the liquid is mechanically impelled into the duct 43. This helps tobring the liquid 2 practically instantaneously to the level of the neck37 of the discharge nozzle 29.

During operation of the apparatus the propellant 6 becomes cool, but itreceives additional heat from the thick wall of the reservoir 5, or fromthe liquid 2 if the reservoir 5 has thin walls and is immersed in theliquid 2. Because aluminium spinning processes makes it possible toproduce receptacles of great length economically, a thin-walledreservoir which extends for the full depth of the outer container can beprovided. When this is done the reserve of liquefied propellant gas canbe heated, during the use of the dispenser, by heat which can besupplied by the liquid to be atomized.

Experience has shown that the arrangement described makes it possible,by choosing a suitable venturi discharge nozzle, to obtain a fineatomization with droplets of about a few tenths microns in diameter witha reduced consumption of propellant, it being necessary to usepropellant only in an amount of about 30% of the weight of the liquid 2to be atomized.

The entry of outside air through the duct 48 likewise facilitates theemptying of the receptacle 1, avoiding the condition in which theinterior of the outer receptacle has a reduced pressure in relation tothe pressure of the atmosphere.

The embodiment described above, and also the other embodiments whichwill be described hereinafter, have the following advantages:

By the systematic use of plastic receptacles, problems of corrosion areeliminated. Consequently it is possible to use water as a solvent, witha wide variety of tensionactive products making it possible to impart tothe liquid agent 2 valuable atomization properties. The cost offormulating the liquid agent 2 is likewise reduced.

Because of the absence of contact between the propellant agent 6 and theliquid 2 it is possible to make general use of formulae which areaqueous particularly those containing organic products which areemulsified or in solution, without these products being first extractedby the liquefied propellant. The mixture will also be substantiallynon-inflammable, even when the propellant gas is a light hydrocarbon,because of the low percentage of the hydrocarbon propellant in relationto the aqueous component.

Because the receptacle 1 is of appreciable size, it ensures satisfactoryprotection against flying fragments if the reservoir 5 should explode.

Atomization is ensured by simple pressure of the finger, the apparatusbeing held in the same hand with which the finger pressure is applied.The pushbutton 27 can furthermore be easily turned around the axis A-Ato direct the nozzle 29 in the desired direction.

If, furthermore, a practically non-inflammable gas such asfiuorochlorinated hydrocarbon such as dichlorofluoromethane is used as apropellant, the invention makes it possible to provideatomizer-dispensers which are noninflammable whether in storage or inuse, which will not cause the slightest danger of fire in case theyexplode, and at a cost very much lower than that of conventional aerosolbombs because of the much smaller quantity of propellant agent and theability to carry out the assembly at atmospheric pressure. Finally theseatomizer-dispensers make it possible to employ a whole series offormulae which cannot be used in conventional aerosol bomb devices.

Another fundamental advantage of the apparatus of the present inventionis that it can be used with the reservoirs 5 having various types ofhigh pressure obturators 7. As pointed out above, thehigh pressureobturator 0f the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 is a conventional type ofobturator. The manner in which the apparatus can be used with othertypes of obturators will be described hereinafter.

In FIGURE 5, the sliding valve body 11 of the high pressure obturatorhas frusto-conical bearing surface around the base of the conduit member16 the bearing surface 65 bearing against a corresponding bearingsurface of a thick substantially inflexible annular member 66 ofresilient material which is fixedly mounted in the body 20 The conduitmember 16 merely slides through the annular member 66 to expose theradial inlet nozzles 14 The remaining parts of the apparatus of thisembodiment are the same as those of the embodiment of FIG- URES 1-4 andare designated by like reference numerals with a subscript 5.

In the embodiment in FIGURE 6, the sliding valve body 11 has a bead 67therearound which seats against a fixed resilient but substantiallyinflexible annular member 68, held between the body 20 here providedwith a centering collar 62 and dome 3 of the cover 9 The conduit member16 merely slides through the annular member 63 to expose the radialinlet nozzles 14 The remaining parts of the apparatus of this embodimentare the same as those of the embodiment of FIGURES 1-4 and aredesignated by like reference numbers with a subscript 6.

Another type of high pressure obturator with which the apparatusaccording to the present invention can be used is the type in which aconduit member from the apparatus extends through an annular member atthe mouth of the propellant reservoir. One form of such an obturator inthe apparatus of the present invention is shown in FIG. 7, in which acentering collar 73 having a downwardly depending annular ring 72 isfitted onto the neck 70 of the propellant reservoir 5 the annular ringhaving a bead on the end engaging under the enlarged upper end of avalve housing 71 to hold the valve housing 71 in place in the neck ofthe reservoir 5 A flexible resilient annular member 77 is positionedover the mouth of the valve housing 71 and has a central opening alignedwith the opening in the centering collar 73. A cover 9 with a dome 8holds the centering collar 73, the flexible annular member 77 and thevalve housing 71 in the neck of the reservoir. Slidably mounted withinthe valve housing '71 is a valve body 75 having a spring 12 beneath itand bearing against the bottom of the valve hous- 9 ing to urge thevalve body upwardly so that the top edge thereof normally seats againstthe flexible annular member 77 and presses it against the centeringcollar 73 to normally seal the reservoir Extending through a centralaperture in the annular member 77 is a conduit member 16 which in thisembodiment is integral with the downwardly extending pushbutton portion31 and the conduit member 16 extends into the valve body 75 and issecured in an annular recess therein. At least one lateral opening 78 isprovided in the conduit member, the upper end of which is just slightlyabove the upper edge of the valve body 75, so that there is formed atleast one inlet nozzle opening into the bore 15 of the conduit member 16The remaining parts of the apparatus of this embodiment are the same asthose of the embodiment of FIG- URES 1-4 and are designated by likereference numbers with a subscript 7.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 8 and 9 the low pressure obturator meansfor the liquid active agent to be dispensed and for the air admitted toreceptacle 1 is a single annular member 79 which is resilient and whichis mounted in the cup 21 in the stopper 4 for the receptacle 1 andthrough which the downwardly extending portion 31 of the pushbutton 27extends.

In this arrangement the annular member 79 has an appreciable thickness,and is mounted in an annular groove 80 in the downwardly extendingportion 31 and has a dimension in the direction in which portion 31extends which is less than the dimension of groove 80, so that the freedisplacement of the member 79 along portion 31 is only restricted by theshoulders at the sides of the groove which form a pair of annular stops81 and 82. A slot 83 is provided along the portion 31 in the bottom ofgroove 80. Extending through the pushbutton 27 from the end of slot 83is a duct 84 opening into the neck 37 of the discharge nozzle 29 theconvergent part of which can be seen at 36 and the divergent part at 38The convergent part 36 is fed through an axial duct 85 in the downwardlyextending portion 31 which duct is in line with the bore in conduitmember 16 of the high pressure obturator. A second pair of annular stops86 and 87 respectively formed by a shoulder in the cup 21 and by aninwardly extending portion of cap 52 which extends inwardly past theprojection 53 of the stopper 4 The clearance provided between the stops81 and 82 and 86 and 87 is greater than the thickness of the annularmember 79. In this embodiment the end 89 of the duct 48 opens directlyinto the cup 21 into an annular space 88 around the annular member 79.

With the parts in the positions shown in FIG. 8 the button 27 is pushedupwardly by the conduit member 16 of the high pressure obturator, whichcauses the stop 82 to push the annular member 79 against the stop 86,ensuring the fluid-tight sealing of the cup 21 in relation to theatmosphere outside the apparatus.

When the button 27 is pressed downwardly to the position shown in FIG.9, the stop 81 comes into contact with the annular member 79 and pushesit down along downwardly extending portion 31 until it is stopped by thestop 87. The liquid 2,; fed through the tube 24 fills the lower part ofthe cup 21 and passes through the slot 83 and duct 84 into the neck 37of the discharge nozzle. At the same time the end 89 of the duct 48;, isclosed off from cup 21 by the seating of annular member 79 on the stop87, and cut 48 is placed in communication with the atmosphere throughthe space which opens up between the annular member 79 and stop 86 andthrough the aperture 90 in cap 52 Of course in the embodiment of FIGS.2-4 and the embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6 it would also be possible touse a pushbutton 27 with a discharge nozzle and duct arrangement of thekind shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 and vice versa.

The embodiment shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 differs fro that of FIGS. 8 and9 in that the high pressure obturator is the type in which a conduitmember extends from the apparatus through an annular member at the mouthof the propellant reservoir. In this embodiment the stopper 4 has adownwardly depending annular ring 91 with an enlarged end portion 92which engages under an enlargement 93 on the neck of the propellantreservoir 5 to hold the stopper and the propellant reservoir together. Aresilient and substantially inflexible annular member 94 is mounted inthe mouth of the propellant reservoir, through which the closed end ofthe conduit member 16 extends in a slidable sealing engagement. Theconduit member is integral with the downwardly extending portion ofpushbutton 27 and has the inlet nozzles 14 therein opening into the bore15 of the conduit member. Resting on the inwardly extending collar 22defining the bottom of the pocket 21 is a spring 95 which at the otherend engages against the bottom of the end of downwardly extendingportion 31 on the bottom surface of stop 82 In the position of the partsas shown in FIG. 10, the spring 95 urges the pushbutton 27 upwardly andholds the conduit member 16 in the up position with the inlet nozzles 14within the annular member 94.

The remaining parts of the apparatus of this embodiment are the same asthose of the embodiment of FIG- URES 8 and 9 and are designated by likereference numbers with a subscript 10.

When the pushbutton 27 is depressed, the parts assume the positionsshown in FIG. 11, the inlet nozzles 14 are pushed below the bottom ofthe annular member 94 in the mouth of the propellant reservoir, andpropellant is expanded into the bore 15 of the conduit member 16 andpasses through the discharge nozzle 29 The passage of the liquid to bedispensed through the apparatus is the same as through the embodiment ofFIGS. 8 and 9, and as shown by the arrows in FIG. 11.

The embodiment of FIG. 12 is the same as .that of FIGS. 10 and 11 withthe exception of the shape of the lower end of the conduit member 16where it engages in the annular member 94 in the mouth of the propellantreservoir 5 In the embodiment of FIG. 12, the closed end of the conduitmember 16 has a pointed enlargement 96 thereon which has an outsidediameter greater than the outside diameter of the conduit member 16 andthe joint between the enlargement 96 and the conduit member 16 is in theform of an upwardly and inwardly tapered seat 97 which engages tightlyin wedging relationship with a complementary seat 98 on the annularmember 94 to form a tight seal for the propellant reservoir 5 Theremaining parts of the embodiment are the same as those of theembodiment of FIGURES 10 and 11 and, where appropriate, are designatedby like reference numbers with a subscript 12. The operation of theembodiment is also the same as that of the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and11.

The embodiment of FIG. 13 is likewise very similar to that of FIGS. 10and 11 and is also similar to that of FIG. 12. It has the integralconduit member 16 extending downwardly through the annular member 94which seals the mouth of the propellant reservoir 5 and as in FIG. 12,there is a pointed enlargement 96 on the end thereof and a seat 97between the enlargement and the conduit member which seats against theannular member 94 to seal olf the propellant reservoir. In theembodiment of FIG. 13, the lower end of the conduit member 16 has agroove 99 around the outside surface thereof into which the inletnozzles 14 open from within the bore 15 The annular member 94 isrelatively thin and flexible rather than merely resilient andsubstantially non-flexible as in the embodiments of FIGS. 9 and 10, andFIGS. 11 and 12. In addition, there is an annular chamber 42 around thedischarge nozzle 29 into which the conduit 84 through the pushbuttonopens, as in the nozzle constriction of the embodiment of FIGS. 2-4.

The remaining parts of the apparatus of this embodiment are the same asthose of the embodiments of FIGS. 9 and 10, and FIGS. 11 and 12, and aredesignated by like reference numbers with a subscript 13. The operationof the embodiment of FIG. 13 is also the same as the operation of theseembodiments.

The embodiment of FIGS. 14 and 15 has a slightly different type ofobturator for the liquid to be dispensed and for sealing off the liquidcontainer from the outside atmosphere. As shown in the figures, thepropellant reservoir which is capped by a cover 9 having a dome 8thereon with a high pressure obturator therein such as that shown in theembodiment of FIGS. 2-4 with a conduit member 16 projecting upwardly outof the obturator. A stopper 4 has an annular extension 17 extendingdownwardly therefrom engaging around the cover 9 to hold the propellantreservoir 5 and the stopper 4 in engagement. As with the otherembodiments, the stopper 4 has the liquid conduit 25 therein extendingfrom a recess in which the tube 24 is positioned to the cup 21 and hasthe air inlet conduit 48 extending from the upper part of the cup 21into the space within the. liquid outer receptacle 1 The stopper 4,, isheld on the outer receptacle by means of the annular cover 62 holdingthe annular rim 58 against the neck of the receptacle 1 The pushbutton27 has a downwardly extending portion 31 which is slidable in the cup 21and is in sealing engagement therewith and has a central bore 44 whichis a continuation of the central bore in the conduit member 16 of thehigh pressure obturator. A peripheral groove 100 is provided around theperiphery of the downwardly extending portion 31 and is located alongthe length of said portion so that when it is opposite the point wherethe liquid conduit 25 opens into the cup 21 the upper end of thedownwardly extending portion which is in sliding engagement with the cup21 is below the point at which the air conduit 48 opens into the cup 21In the particular embodiment shown, there is a further groove 101between the groove 100 and the top of the slidable engaging portion, sothat there is an annular shoulder defined between the two grooves whichengages the Wall of the cup 21 and an annular shoulder 103 between thegroove 101 and the top of the portion 31 and a still further annularshoulder 104 between the groove 100 and the bottom of the portion 31 Inthe embodiment shown, the pushbutton differs further from theembodiments described previously in that it is designed to project astream of atomized fluid axially of the apparatus rather than laterally.To this end, the discharge nozzle 29 is positioned in the upper end ofthe central bore 44 and has the converging part 36 the neck 37 and thedivergent part 38 opening out of the top of the pushbutton. Annularchamber 42 surrounds the discharge nozzle and the liquid conduit 43opens into this chamber. Radial ducts 41 open into the neck of thedischarge nozzle from the chamber 42 The pushbutton has two oppositelyextending finger engageable extensions 105 having finger depressions 106therein.

With the parts in the positions shown in FIG. 14, the high pressureobturator seals the propellant reservoir 5 and the downwardly extendingportion 31 seals off the cup 21 and consequently seals off conduit 25 tothe liquid container 1 At the same time, the downwardly dependingportion 31 seals off the air inlet conduit 48 so that the liquidcontainer is completely sealed off from the outside atmosphere.

When the pushbutton 27 is depressed by pressure of the fingers of onehand on extensions 105, the parts assume the positions shown in FIG. 15,and it will be seen that the high pressure obturator is opened torelease propellant from the propellant reservoir in the same manner asdescribed in connection with FIGS. 2-4, so that propellant flows throughthe bore 4-4 and through the discharge nozzle 29 At the same time, thegroove in the downwardly extending portion 31 is moved to a positionopposite the point at which the liquid conduit 25 opens into the cup 21so that liquid can be drawn up the tube 24 through conduit 25 throughthe groove 100, through the conduit 43 in the stopper into the annularchamber 42 around the discharge nozzle, and then through the radialducts 41 into the neck 37 of the discharge nozzle Where it is entrainedin the propellant. Further, since the top of the downwardly extendingportion 31 has moved below the level of the point at which the air inletconduit 48 opens into the cup 21 air is free to flow into the receptacle1 through the air inlet conduit. The liquid in the receptacle is therebydispensed in the flowing stream of propellant as an upwardly divergingspray.

Release of finger pressure on the pushbutton enables the spring meansand the pressure of the propellant in the reservoir 5 to move thepushbutton and the downwardly extending portion 31 thereof upwardly intothe position of FIG. 14, thereby again sealing the propellant reservoiras well as the liquid receptacle.

It will be seen that the number of parts of the apparatus according tothis embodiment is quite small and they will be relatively easy tomanufacture and assemble because no sealing joint is necessary for thepushbutton. The pushbutton and its downwardly extending portion can beof a plastic which has a low coefficient of friction, for examplepolytetrafluoroethylene.

The embodiment of FIGS. 16 and 17 is similar to that of FIGS. 14 and 15in that the discharge nozzle opens axially out of the top of thepushbutton. As seen in these figures, the stopper 4 has an annularextension 17 depending therefrom which engages around the neck ofpropellant reservoir 5 to hold the stopper and the reservoir inengagement. An annular gasket 125 is positioned between the stopper 4and the top of the neck of the reservoir 5 and projects inwardly into acentral bore 106 and forms the bottom of a pocket 21 in the.

stopper 4 The top of the pocket is partially closed by an inwardlyprojecting flexible collar 107. The stopper is secured to an outerreceptacle 1 by an annular cap 62 in the same manner as the stopper ofthe embodiment of FIGS. 24. The stopper also has a liquid conduit 25therein leading from a recess in which the upper end of liquid tube 24is held, and has an air inlet conduit 48 opening into the top of thereceptacle 1 Both conduits open into the cup 21 the liquid conduit 25opening near the bottom of the cup and the air conduit 48 opening nearthe top of the cup. Positioned in the neck of the reservoir 5 and insealing engagement with the gasket is a valve housing 20 having anopening 30 in the bottom thereof opening into the reservoir. Mountedadjacent the opening 30 is a ball valve member 108 for metering thequantity of propellant discharged from the reservoir when the apparatusis used with the pushbutton pointing down.

Positioned within the cup 21 is a downwardly extending portion 31 whichhas a valve body 11 on the end thereof which extends into the-valvehousing 20 A spring 12 positioned between the bottom of the valvehousing 20 and the bottom of the valve body 11 assists in urging thevalve body upwardly. A flexible annular member 13 is positioned againstthe top of the valve housing 20 within the cup 21 and projects inwardlyso that under the action of the spring 12 and the pressure of thepropellant in the reservoir 5 the valve body 11 will seal against theflexible annular member 13 Positioned on top of annular member 13 is anannular spacer ring 109 which has a diameter slightly less than that ofthe cup 21 and which has radial inlet openings 110 therein. The liquidconduit 25 opens into the cup 21 in the space around the spacer ring109. On top of the spacer ring 109 is a further flexible annular member111 the outer periphery of which is tightly engaged with the surface ofthe stopper 4 defining the cup. On top of the annular member 111 is afurther annular spacer ring 112 which also has a diameter slightly lessthan that of cup 21 and which has radial inlet openings 113 therein. Theair inlet conduit 48 opens into the cup 21 in the space around thespacer ring 112. On top of the spacer 112 is a still further flexibleannular member 114 which is in tight engagement with the flexible collar107, so that the stack of alternate flexible annular members and spacerrings are held in sealing engagement with each other.

Within downwardly extending portion 31 is an axial discharge nozzlehaving a convergent part 36 a neck part 37 with inlets 41 therein, and adivergent part 38 Around the periphery of the downwardly extendingportion 31 are three grooves 115, 116 and 117 which are spaced along thelength of the downwardly extending portion. Groove 115 is positionedright above the valve body 11 and annular member 13 engages in it toseal off inlet nozzle 14 which extends from the groove 115 into theconvergent part 36 of the discharge nozzle. Groove 116 is positionedabout midway of the length of the downwardly extending portion 31 andannular member 111 engages in it and normally seals ofr" inlet 41 to theneck of the discharge nozzle. Groove 117 is near the top of thedownwardly extending portion and has annular member 114 engaged thereinnormally sealing it off. In addition, longitudinally extending bleedergrooves 118 are provided in downwardly extending portion 31 openingupwardly out of the groove 117.

Firmly secured to the top of downwardly extending portion 31 is thefinger engageable portion 119 of the pushbutton 27 said portion 119having a serrated finger engaging extension 120 projecting later-ally ofthe pushbutton and having an aperture 121 aligned with the divergentpart 38 of the discharge nozzle through which material mixed withpropellant is discharged. A shield 122 is provided between the aperture121 and the finger engaging extension 120. The pushbutton is mounted ona bead 123 around the top edge of stopper 4 With the parts in thepositions shown in FIG. 16, the propellant reservoir is sealed by theflexible annular member 13 covering the inlet nozzle 14 and the valvebody 11 being seated against the flexible annular member 13 these partstogether forming a high pressure obturator for the propellant reservoir.The liquid conduit 25 is sealed by the flexible annular member 111 whichis tightly sealed in the pocket 21 and which normally engages in groove116 to seal off inlets 41 to the neck of the discharge nozzle. Air inletconduit 48 is sealed by the flexible annular member 114 which seals thegroove 117 and is tightly engaged against the collar 107. The flexibleannular members 111 and 114 are thus each a low pressure obturator, onefor the liquid conduit and one for the air inlet conduit.

When the pushbutton 27 is depressed by pressure of a finger in thedirection of the arrow K, the downwardly extending portion 31 is moveddownwardly, and the parts take the positions as shown in FIG. 17. Theinlet nozzle moves below the flexible annular member 13 and propellantexpands through this nozzle into the convergent part 36 of the dischargenozzle, and then passes through the neck 37 The inlets 41 are movedbelow the flexible annular member 111, and because of the low pressurein the neck 37 liquid is drawn up through the tube 24 liquid conduit 25and into the cup 21 and then passes through the radial inlet openings110 in the spacer ring 109 and then into the inlets 41 At the same time,the groove 117 is moved downwardly away from the flexible annular member114 so that the bleeder grooves are opened, allowing air to enter thecup 21 pass through the radial passages 113 in spacer 14 ring 112 andinto the air inlet conduit 48 and the receptacle 1 When the pushbuttonis released, the spring 12 and the pressure of the propellant inreservoir 5 return the downwardly extending portion 31 to the positionof FIG. 16, thereby again sealing the receptacle 1 and the reservoir 5Many types of materials can be used to make the various parts of theapparatus, for example, plastics, metal and glass. Moreover, it iswithin the scope of the present invention to provide a plurality of ductsystems, i.e. a plurality of sets of ducts each having a liquid duct andan air inlet duct, and a plurality of compartments in the receptacle 1so that materials which cannot be stored together can nevertheless beatomized and dispensed. Examples of such materials are an acid and abase, and a resin and its polymerization catalyst. In such cases, theliquid conduits from the separate parts of the receptacle 1 conduct theliquids to the neck of the discharge nozzle Where they are mixed for thefirst time. In order to accommodate the structure of the presentinvention to this embodiment, it will be necessary to provide separatereceptacles or partition the one receptacle, and to provide a liquidduct and an air inlet duct for each compartment and to provideobturators, either separate or combined, for each of the ducts. One wayof accomplishing this result would be, for example in FIGS. 24, toprovide a longer downwardly depending portion with two grooves therein,the ducts from one groove extending to the neck of the discharge nozzleand the ducts from the other groove extending to the neck of the nozzle.

It is thought that the invention and its advantages will be understoodfrom the foregoing description and it is apparent that various changesmay be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the partswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention orsacrificing its material advantages, the forms hereinbefore describedand illustrated in the drawings being merely preferred embodimentsthereof.

What I claim is:

1. An atomizer-dispenser for fluids, comprising an outer receptaclehaving at least one space therein for at least one fluid to bedispensed, an inner reservoir for a propellant gas under pressure andpositioned within said outer receptacle, a stopper closing said outerreceptacle and having said inner reservoir secured thereto, a pushbuttonmovably mounted in said stopper, a discharge nozzle forming part of saidatomizer-dispenser, a high pressure obturator means coupled to saidpushbutton and located between said propellant reservoir and saiddischarge nozzle and movable by said pushbutton for passing propellantgas from said reservoir through said discharge nozzle, and at least onelow pressure obturator means coupled to said pushbutton and locatedbetween said one space in said outer receptacle and said dischargenozzle and between said one space in said outer receptacle and theoutside of said dispenser and movable by said pushbutton for placing theinterior of said at least one space in said receptacle in communicationwith said discharge nozzle and placing the interior of said one space insaid receptacle in communication with the space outside the dispenser.

2. An atomizer-dispenser for fluids, comprising an outer receptacle forthe fluid to be dispensed, an inner reservoir for a propellant gas underpressure and positioned within said outer receptacle, a stopper closingsaid outer receptacle and having said inner reservoir secured thereto, apushbutton movably mounted in said stopper, a discharge nozzle formingpart of said atomizer-dispenser, high pressure obturator means coupledto said pushbutton and located between said propellant reservoir andsaid discharge nozzle and movable by said pushbutton for passingpropellant gas from said reservoir through said discharge nozzle, andlow pressure obturator means coupled to said pushbutton and locatedbetween said outer receptacle and said discharge nozzle and between saidouter receptacle and the outside of said dispenser and movable by saidpushbutton for placing the interior of said receptacle in communicationwith said discharge nozzle and placing the interior of said receptaclein communication with the space outside said dispenser.

3. An atomizer-dispenser for fluids, comprising an outer receptacle forthe fluid to be dispensed, an inner resewoir for a propellant gas underpressure and positioned within said outer receptacle, a stopper closingsaid outer receptacle and having said inner reservoir secured thereto, apushbutton movably mounted in said stopper, said pushbutton having adischarge nOZzle therein, said discharge nozzle having a low pressurecreating portion, fluid conduit means extending from the interior ofsaid receptacle through said stopper and said pushbutton to the lowpressure creating portion of said discharge nozzle and having air inletconduit means extending from the interior of said receptacle to theoutside of said dispenser, high pressure obturator means coupled to saidpushbutton and located between said propellant reservoir and saiddischarge nozzle and movable by said pushbutton for passing propellantgas from said reservoir through said discharge nozzle, and low pressurebturator means coupled to said pushbutton and positioned in said fluidconduit means and in said air inlet conduit means and movable by saidpushbutton for opening both said conduit means to place the interior ofsaid receptacle in communication with said low pressure creating portionof said discharge nozzle and placing the interior of said receptacle incommunication with the space outside the dispenser.

4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 3 in which said high pressureobturator means comprises a valving means having a propellantdischarging conduit member movable substantially axially of saidreservoir, said low pressure obturator means being mounted between saidpushbutton and said stopper, both obturator means" being movable to theopen position by the same motion of the pushbutton.

5. A dispenser as claimed in claim 4 in which said pushbutton isslidable axially of said stopper and has a first passage therethroughcommunicating with said propellant discharging conduit member of saidvalving means and opening into said discharge nozzle and a secondpassage therethrough opening into said low pressure creating portion ofsaid discharge nozzle and forming part of said fluid conduit means, saidlow pressure obturator means being associated with said second passagein said pushbutton member.

6. A dispenser as claimed in claim 5 in which said stopper has a cuptherein and a cap with an opening through which said pushbutton extendsdownwardly and into which cup said propellant discharging conduit memberfrom said valving means extends, said opening in said cap being largerthan the part of said pushbutton which extends through it, saidpushbutton engaging said propellant discharging conduit member, said lowpressure obturator means being a single annular member movably mountedin said cup between said stopper and said pushbutton, said secondpassage in said pushbutton opening out of said pushbutton adjacent saidannular member and said air inlet conduit means in said stopper being anair inlet conduit opening into said cup adjacent said annular member,and the portion of said fluid conduit means in said stopper opening intosaid cup between said annular member and the bottom of said cup towardsaid propellant reservoir.

7. A dispenser as claimed in claim 6 in which said pushbutton has adownwardly extending portion extending into said cup, and said annularmember is a flexible annular member having the outer periphery fixed insaid stopper adjacent to top of said cup, said downwardly extendingportion having an annular groove therein in which the inner periphery ofsaid annular member is engaged, said second passage in said pushbuttonopening into said groove, said air inlet conduit opening into said cupbetween said annular member and the top of said cup, said cap having adownwardly depending member against which the said annular member sealswhen said pushbutton is in the undepressed condition for sealing saidair inlet conduit from the outside of said dispenser, and said annularmember sealing against the top of said groove and opening said secondpassage into said cup and being distorted away from said downwardlydepending member to open said air inlet conduit to the atmosphereoutside the dispenser through the cap opening when said pushbutton is inthe depressed position.

8. A dispenser as claimed in claim 6 in which said pushbutton has adownwardly extending portion extending into said cup, and said annularmember is a resilient and substantially non-flexible member, saiddownwardly extending portion having an annular groove therein having adimension in the direction of the length of said downwardly extendingportion greater than the corresponding dimension of said annular member,the upper and lower edges of said groove defining upper and lower stopmembers and said annular member being movable along said downwardlyextending portion in said groove, said cap having an inwardly extendingportion around the top of said cup having an aperture therein larger indiameter than that of the downwardly extending portion of saidpushbutton and the under side of which defines an upper stop member, andsaid cup having a lower stop member therein spaced from the upper stopmember at the top of said cup a distance substantially the same as thespacing of the upper and lower stop members on said downwardly extendingportion, said annular member extending radially of said downwardlyextending portion so as to lie between said upper and lower stop membersin said cup, said air inlet conduit opening into said cup adjacent saidupper stop in said cup and said second passage in said pushbuttonopening into said groove in said downwardly extending portion, saidgroove having a recess in the bottom thereof extending in the directionof the downwardly extending portion and aligned with said secondpassage, said annular member engaging said upper stop in said cup andsaid lower stop on said downwardly extending portion in thenon-dispensing position of the parts of said dispenser and engaging theupper stop on said downwardly extending portion and the lower stop insaid cup in the depressed position of said pushbutton. v

9. A dispenser as claimed in claim 8 in which said downwardly extendingportion on said pushbutton is directly engaged with said propellantdischarging conduit member of said high pressure obturator and said highpressure obturator means has spring means within said cup urging saidvalving means to the closed position.

10. A dispenser as claimed in claim 8 in which said downwardly extendingportion on said pushbutton is integral with said conduit member of saidhigh pressure obturator means, and spring means in said cup engagedbetween the bottom of said downwardly extending portion and the bottomof said cup for urging said pushbutton upwardly to the closed positionof both said obturator means.

11. A dispenser as claimed in claim 3 in which said high pressureobturator means comprises a valving means having a gas expansion inletnozzle and a propellant discharging conduit member into which said inletnozzle opens, said conduit member being movable substantially axially ofsaid reservoir.

12. A dispenser as claimed in claim 3 in which said stopper has adownwardly depending flexible collar thereon engaged with the top ofsaid reservoir for securing said stopper and said reservoir together.

13. A dispenser as claimed in claim 3 in which said pper has a cuptherein through which said pushbutton extends downwardly, said highpressure obturator means ha i g an upwardly extending propellantdischarge conduit member extending through the bottom of said stopperinto said cup, said stopper having a slightly flexible collar formingthe bottom of said cup and sealingly seated against the top of saidreservoir for sealing said stopper against said reservoir.

14. A dispenser as claimed in claim 3 in which said high pressureobturator means comprises a valving means having a propellantdischarging conduit member movable substantially axially of saidreservoir, said stopper having a cup therein having an opening throughthe top of the stopper and an opening in the bottom thereof throughwhich said propellant discharging conduit member extends, saidpushbutton having a downwardly extending portion with a diametersubstantially equal to the diameter of said cup and extending into saidcup and sealingly slidable in said cup, said downwardly extendingportion having a groove around the periphery thereof, said pushbuttonhaving a first passage therethrough communicating with said propellantdischarging conduit member of said high pressure obturator means andopening into said discharge nozzle and having a second passagetherethrough with one end opening into the low pressure creating part ofsaid discharge nozzle and with the other end opening into said groovearound said downwardly depending portion, said second passage formingpart of said fluid conduit means, the remainder of said fluid conduitmeans 'being a fluid conduit in said stopper extending from the bottomof said stopper within said receptacle to said cup, said fluid conduitmeans opening into said cup at a point at which said groove ispositioned when said pushbutton is depressed, and said air inlet conduitmeans being an air inlet conduit in said stopper extending from withinsaid receptacle to the upper part of said cup and opening into said cupat a point above said downwardly extending portion when said downwardlyextending portion is in the depressed position.

15. A dispenser as claimed in claim 3 in which said low pressureobturator means comprises a first obturator in said fluid conduit meansand a second obturator in said air inlet conduit means, said pushbuttonbeing axially movable in said stopper and engaging said obturators foractuating them during movement of said pushbutton.

16. A dispenser as claimed in claim 3 in which said stopper has a cuptherein having a top with an opening therethrough and an opening in thebottom thereof, said high pressure obturator means extending into saidcup through the bottom opening thereof and said stopper being in sealingengagement with the top of said reservoir, said pushbutton having adownwardly extending portion with a diameter less than that of theopening in the top of said cup and extending into said cup and having afirst passage therein controlled by said high pressure obturator meansand being in communication with said discharge nozzle, said downwardlyextending portion having a second passage therein having one end openinginto the low pressure creating part of said discharge nozzle and theother end opening out into said cup and forming part of said fluidconduit means, a first annular obturating member in said cup andengaging said downwardly extending portion and defining a first sealedportion of said cup between the bottom of said cup and said firstannular obturating member, the remainder of said fluid conduit meansbeing a fluid conduit in said stopper extending from within saidreceptacle and opening into said first space in said cup, the air inletconduit means being an air inlet conduit in said stopper extending fromwithin the receptacle and opening into said cup above said first annularobturating member, and a second annular obturating member in the top ofsaid cup and engaging said downwardly extending portion and normallyclosing off the opening in the top of said cup, the said second passageopening into said first space in said cup when the pushbutton is in thedepressed position and said second annular obturating member beingdeformed to open said air inlet passage to the atmosphere when thepushbutton i in the depressed position.

17. A dispenser as claimed in claim 16 in which said downwardlyextending portion has two grooves therearound, a lower groove into whichsaid second passage opens and which has the inner periphery of saidfirst annular obturating member engaged therein, and an upper groovehaving bleeder grooves in the downwardly extending portion opening intosaid upper groove, the inner periphery of said second annular memberengaging in said second groove for normally sealing off said bleedergrooves to define a second sealed portion of said cup between said firstannular member and said second annular member and into which said airinlet conduit opens.

18. An atomizer-dispenser assembly adapted to be mounted on an outerreceptacle for the fluid to be dispensed, there being an inner reservoirfor a propellant gas under pressure and positioned within said outerreceptacle and having a high pressure obturator thereon, said assemblycomprising a stopper adapted to close the outer receptacle and adaptedto have said inner reservoir secured thereto, a pushbutton movablymounted in said stopper and adapted to engage the high pressureobturator, said pushbutton having a discharge nozzle therein adapted toreceive propellant from said reservoir, said discharge nozzle having alow pressure creating portion, fluid conduit means extending from theinterior of said receptacle through said stopper and said pushbutton tothe low pressure creating portion of said discharge nozzle and havingair inlet conduit means adapted to extend from the interior of saidreceptacle and extending to the outside of said dispenser, and lowpressure obturator means coupled to said pushbutton and positioned insaid fluid conduit means and in said air inlet conduit means and movableby said pushbutton for opening both said conduit means to place theinterior of said receptacle in communication with said low pressurecreating portion of said discharge nozzle and placing the interior ofsaid receptacle in communication with the space outside the dispenser.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,947,449 8/ 1960Hernandez 222394 2,973,883 3/1961 Modderno 222 3,040,991 6/ 1962 Fedit239-304 3,217,936 11/1965 Abplanalp 222-136 M. HENSON WOOD, JR., PrimaryExaminer.

R. S. STROBEL, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN ATOMIZER-DISPENSER FOR FLUIDS, COMPRISING AN OUTER RECEPTACLEHAVING AT LEAST ONE SPACE THEREIN FOR AT LEAST ONE FLUID TO BEDISPENSED, AN INNER RESERVOIR FOR A PROPELLANT GAS UNDER PRESSURE ANDPOSITONED WITHIN SAID OUTER RECEPTACLE, A STOPPER CLOSING SAID OUTERRECEPTACLE AND HAVING SAID INNER RESERVOIR SECURED THERETO, A PUSHBUTTONMOVABLY MOUNTED IN SAID STOPPER, A DISCHARGE NOZZLE FORMING PART OF SAIDATOMIZER-DISPENSER, A HIGH PRESSURE OBTURATOR MEANS COUPLED TO SAIDPUSHBUTTON AND LOCATED BETWEEN SAID PROPELLANT RESERVOIR AND SAIDDISCHARGE NOZZLE AND MOVABLE BY SAID PUSHBOTTON FOR PASSING PROPELLANTGAS FROM SAID RESERVOIR THROUGH SAID DISCHARGE NOZZLE, AND AT LEAST ONELOW PRESSURE OBTURATOR MEANS COUPLED TO SAID PUSHBUTTON AND LOCATEDBETWEEN SAID ONE SPACE IN SAID OUTER RECEPTACLE AND SAID DISCHARGENOZZLE AND BETWEEN SAID ONE SPCE IN SAID OUTER RECEPTACLE AND THEOUTSIDE OF SAID DISPENSER AND MOVABLE BY SAID PUSHBUTTON FOR PLACING THEINTERIOR OF SAID AT LEAST ONE SPACE IN SAID RECEPTACLE IN COMMUNICATIONWITH SAID DISCHARGE NOZZLE AND PLACING THE INTERIOR OF SAID ONE SPACE INSAID RECEPTACLE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE SPACE OUTSIDE THE DISPENSER.